Head of development jobs in Manchester, greater manchester
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Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Together we make a difference, develop and learn, and support each other. Every day with us is different, but our mission remains the same: To champion the rights, needs and ambitions of the people we support - they are at the heart of everything we do. We stand by them and we work together for change.
Alongside an incredible team of like-minded peers, you’ll be working behind-the-scenes to support our staff, volunteers, families, and supporters. You will be helping our work happen across the charity; enabling us to care for and champion the rights, needs and ambitions of the people we support.
The Role
As the Head of Business Development, you will provide strategic leadership and hands-on delivery to stabilise and strengthen the Trust’s business development approach. You will lead the end-to-end opportunity pipeline - from market intelligence and commissioner engagement through to bid development, governance and mobilisation handover - ensuring opportunities are aligned to strategy, deliver strong outcomes, and are financially viable.
Hours: 37.5 Hours
Contract : Permanent
Salary: £48,022.00
Location: Cheadle, Stockport
Responsibilities include but are not exhaustive
- Provide visible interim leadership for the Trust’s business development function, setting clear priorities and ways of working, and coordinating contribution from service, operational, clinical and corporate colleagues.
- Develop and maintain a Trust-wide opportunity pipeline (tenders, frameworks, spot-purchase growth, strategic partnerships and other commissioned income routes), including qualification, prioritisation, and clear next steps.
- Lead proactive engagement with commissioners, local authorities, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), NHS partners and other stakeholders to understand demand, shape specifications where appropriate, and position the Trust effectively.
- Own the end-to-end bid process: establish bid plans, coordinate contributors, draft and quality-assure responses, and ensure submissions are compliant, persuasive, and submitted on time.
- Work with Finance and service leads to ensure all bids and proposals are underpinned by robust costing, pricing, risk assessment and contract terms review; ensure financial viability and appropriate approvals before submission.
- Create and embed a practical bid governance approach (stage-gates, templates, timelines and sign-off), so that bidding is consistent, efficient and auditable.
- Champion the Together Trust’s vision, mission and values, and role model the Trust’s behaviours.
- Commit to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in how opportunities are developed and how the Trust works with partners.
- Maintain a visible presence across Trust services and corporate teams, balancing hybrid working with on-site engagement as needed.
About You
- Educated to degree level (or equivalent senior leadership experience).
- Evidence of continuing professional development in leadership, commissioning, commercial practice or service transformation
- Significant senior experience in commissioning, business development, service development or strategic partnership working within a public service environment (e.g. local authority, NHS, education, social care, VCFSE).
- Proven track record of developing successful proposals, business cases, tenders or commissioning documentation - including coordinating multiple contributors to deadlines.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, including experience engaging credibly with senior commissioners and partners.
- Good understanding of public sector commissioning and procurement routes, including tendering, frameworks and contract governance.
- Understanding of the importance of safeguarding, quality and regulatory expectations when developing and mobilising services for children, young people and adults.
- Ability to analyse complex problems, identify options and recommend proportionate solutions.
- Full UK driving license with ability to travel across Together Trust locations and to partner/commissioner meetings as required.
Benefits
- Annual Leave 27 day holiday plus 8 days bank holidays rising to 30 after 5 years, 33 days after 10 years
- Generous pension scheme and death in service benefit, up to 7% company pension contributions initially rising with length of service and up to 6 x basic salary death in service benefit.
- Occupational sick pay and family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
- Reward and Discount platform offering discounts at high street shops, travel, insurances etc.
- Eligibility to apply for Blue Light card
- Proud to be a real living wage employer
- Refer a friend scheme, be rewarded for recommending a friend to work with us
- Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including apprenticeship qualifications
- Long service awards including cash gifts and extra holiday.
- Promotion of Wellbeing across the organisation including Mental Health First Aiders offering wellbeing support from trained colleague and free weekly yoga session in person or online
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme for you and adults at your home
Find out more — watch our short video to see what it’s like to work with us:
https://youtu.be/SEnw2o00T6E
Applications are very welcome from all regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or socio-economic background. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments for disabled people. We positively encourage applications from those with lived experience.
If there is any part of your lived experience you want to keep confidential in some way please talk to the Recruitment or HR shared service teams and we will do what we can to support you
The Together Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support and expects all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Safeguarding checks will be undertaken for the successful candidate in line with our safer recruitment policy.
We are a UK charity supporting children in care and people with disabilities, autism and complex needs in the North West.
Are you a fundraising expert intrigued by the idea of transforming healthcare through the power of volunteering? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you!
Helpforce is on a mission to revolutionise health volunteering, and we’re looking for a dynamic, strategic, and results-driven Head of Business Development & Fundraising to lead this work. This is your chance to shape the future of a award-winning national charity at the intersection of innovation, impact, and social good.
You will develop and deliver an integrated strategy across philanthropic fundraising (grants, trusts, high-net-worth donors) and revenue-generating business development. Reporting to the CEO/SMT and working closely with Communications, Finance, and Programme teams, you’ll ensure strong prioritisation, clear pipeline management, and robust forecasting to support decision-making.
You’ll also play a visible external role, representing Helpforce at events, building strategic relationships, and identifying new opportunities through proactive networking.
Since our launch in 2017, we’ve championed a vision where volunteering is integral to healthcare at its best. We work with NHS Trusts and healthcare organisations to co-create volunteering models that address key challenges, while building evidence of their impact. Our insights help health leaders invest in solutions that improve patient experience, ease pressure on staff, and deliver meaningful benefits for the volunteers who give their time and talents.
This is not just any job, this is a chance to make a tangible difference to the lives of millions who receive and deliver healthcare.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy & Leadership
- Lead the development and delivery of an integrated income-generation strategy.
- Identify and assess new fundraising and business development opportunities.
- Work with the CEO and SMT to set annual revenue targets, KPIs and income projections, ensuring accurate and timely forecasting.
- Utilise your senior level networks to identify new areas Helpforce can operate in.
- Ensure all income-generating activities align with Helpforce’s financial strategy and comply with internal governance and approval processes.
Fundraising
- Develop and manage a healthy pipeline of funding prospects including trusts, foundations, institutional funders, and HNWIs.
- Shape and oversee compelling value propositions, funding proposals, donor reports, and stewardship plans – incorporating storytelling into high-calibre content.
- Manage relationships with existing funders, ensuring high-quality communication and reporting.
- Ensure full compliance with restricted fund terms and grant agreements, working with Finance to monitor allocation and utilisation of funding.
- Uphold ethical fundraising standards and ensure alignment with the Fundraising Regulator Code of Practice.
- Deliver year on year growth in fundraising income against agreed targets.
Business Development
- Identify and develop new markets, partnership models and products offerings.
- Leverage the excellent track record and reputation of Helpforce, using our sector-leading evidence of impact to generate new opportunities.
- Lead the preparation of bids, tenders, proposals, and commercial negotiations, ensuring all opportunities are assessed for fit, feasibility, pricing, and margin.
- Collaborate with programme managers to package services for sale or partnership.
- Conduct due diligence on prospective partners and commercial clients to ensure values alignment and manage reputational risk.
Relationship Management
- Build and maintain relationships with donors, funders, corporate partners, and public sector stakeholders.
- Represent the organisation at external events, conferences, and networking opportunities to raise visibility and strengthen the organisation’s profile.
- Support senior-level relationship-building with strategic funders and institutional partners, working alongside the CEO and Trustees where appropriate.
- Maintain a focused approach to cultivating a number of high potential relationships positioned for long term or multi-year support.
Finance & Reporting
- Set, monitor, and report on income targets, pipeline health, ROI and overall income performance against agreed KPIs.
- Develop budgets and financial forecasts for all income streams ensuring accuracy, transparency, and timely updates for senior decision-making.
- Liaise with the Finance team to ensure accurate tracking, reporting and audit-readiness.
- Collaborate with Finance to ensure accurate funder-specific financial reporting, including restricted/unrestricted income reporting and grant reconciliations.
- Monitor income and expenditure related to income generation activities, support financial planning, and advise on funding risks and sustainability.
- Provide clear insights into income confidence levels, timelines, risks, and mitigation actions.
Person Specification
Essential
- 5+ years of senior-level experience in fundraising, business development, or strategic partnerships.
- Proventrack recordof raising significant funding (6–7 figure).
- Demonstrated experience developing and delivering successful income-generation strategies.
- Above excellent written communication and document design skills (grant writing, proposals, reporting).
- Strong negotiation, commercial awareness and contract management skills.
- Highly confident in face-to-face relationship building, networking and able to represent Helpforce effectively at external meetings, events, and conferences.
- Proven ability to identify and build new strategic relationships across diverse sectors, including government agencies, NHS, philanthropy, and corporate partners.
- Ability to work with resilience, maintain momentum under pressure, and adapt quickly to evolving opportunities.
Desirable
- Experience in a non-profit, NGO, social enterprise, or impact-driven business.
- Knowledge of CRM systems and fundraising databases.
- Sector knowledge: [e.g. healthcare].
Equality and Diversity
Helpforce encourages applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries. We're committed to having a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. We actively encourage BAME and disabled applicants and value the positive impact that difference has on our organisation. We are committed to equality and diversity within our workforce and all opportunities provided by Helpforce.
Location
Remote, but travel to the London office will be required, as will UK wide client meetings.
Closing date for applications is 9th April 2026. Please use the application link to send us your CV and a covering letter to support your application. Applications submitted without a covering letter may not be considered.
REF-227 559
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Please Note: You will not be eligible to apply unless you hold the L2 Award in Instructing Cycle Training and have worked for 5 years in cycle training. If you do not hold this qualification your application will automatically rejected.
- Lead the Trust’s strategic development work supporting our 2025–2035 strategic ambitions.
- Drive innovation across the Bikeability programme — including training guidance, evidence-based pilots, and digital learning products.
- Use your expertise as a qualified cycle training instructor to shape improvements to national training delivery.
- Support research, evaluation and evidence generation to ensure the programme remains future-focused and impactful.
- Represent the Trust at national forums, government meetings, conferences, and sector events.
- Manage development budgets, oversee project governance, and contribute to strategic decision-making.
- Ideal for someone with quality assurance experience, a strong background in qualification design and evaluation, and a proven track record of delivering innovative, high-impact projects.
We expect to hold interviews on either 10th or 13th April but we may do rolling interviews.
Equipping more than five million children with the skills and confidence to cycle on today’s roads
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.